That’s the general sentiment from the Alaska camp after Aces star Calvin Abueva missed the cut along with LA Tenorio for the Final 12 of the Gilas team that will fly the flag in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next month.

“Good for us sa Alaska kasi he doesn’t have to rest,” Dondon Hontiveros, a former Gilas captain, told SPIN.ph after practice on Monday. “He can start right after the tournament, unlike sa amin (last year) na pinapahinga pa kami ni coach for a week.”

Still, Aces assistant coach Louie Alas rued the absence of Abueva in the national team that is On an ambitious quest to get the Philippines back to the Olympics.

“We never expected it (the decision), pero baka may nakikita sila na hindi natin nakikita,” said Alas, who has been running Alaska practice in lieu of head coach and Gilas assistant Alex Compton.

Asked if he has an idea how Baldwin came to his decision, having played for him in the Gilas team during last year’s Fiba Asia Championship, Hontiveros feels the national coach could be giving other players chances to provide what Abueva brings.

“It might be Japeth (Aguilar) playing the four because his length and athleticism kailangan sa international,” he added. “Or it might be Parks, it might be Bobby Ray’s growth or breakout performance like what happened with Terrence (Romeo) and Calvin the last time.”